Ulster County lawmaker John Parete lashes out at 'flow control' plan

KINGSTON, N.Y. -- Ulster County Legislator John Parete on Tuesday urged his fellow lawmakers to reject County Executive Michael Hein's proposal to implement a law requiring that all trash collected in Ulster County be brought to the county Resource Recovery Agency for processing.

Parete, D-Boiceville, made his appeal to members of the Legislature's Ways and Means Committee, which is considering requests for amendments to Democrat Hein's proposed 2013 budget.

Hein's $359.3 million spending plan is based, in part, on the implementation of the trash "flow control" law, which the executive has said would eliminate a $2.45 million subsidy to the Resource Recovery Agency.

Parete, who opposes flow control, said the county should create a dedicated fund through the implementation of a user fee to help fund the agency's operation.

Parete proposed the Legislature close the $2.45 million gap by adopting all the recommended revenue increases and expense reductions recommended by the Legislature's budget consultants.

County Budget Director JJ Hanson said recommended savings projected by the consultants "will not materialize."

"I don't think it exists," he said. And even if any of those savings do materialize, Hanson said, the consultants themselves said the money should be put into contingency.

The only other lawmaker to call for a change to Hein's spending plan on Tuesday was Wayne Harris, who proposed lawmakers eliminate a deputy clerk to the Legislature, which carries a $37,500 salary, and divvy up $22,000 of that money among four outside agencies that provide services to county residents. The remaining $15,500 would go to the Legislature's professional services line.

Harris, R-Clintondale, said he recommended eliminating the clerk's position because it is "very similar" to vacant fiscal analyst post within the Legislature's office.